Cemented drill pipe controls Kurdistan well

WesternZagros Resources Ltd., Calgary, cemented the drill string to control high pressure encountered at its Kurdamir-1 exploration well on the Kalar Bawanoor Block in the southern part of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Mar 22nd, 2010

By OGJ editors HOUSTON, Mar. 22 – WesternZagros Resources Ltd., Calgary, cemented the drill string to control high pressure encountered at its Kurdamir-1 exploration well on the Kalar Bawanoor Block in the southern part of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The well encountered high formation pressures in the Gulneri seal formation, and drillers cemented the drill string at 2,702 m, below the 9-5/8-in. casing (OGJ Online, Feb. 8, 2010).

WesternZagros will sidetrack the well through the Aaliji and Shiranish formations, where it encountered oil and gas shows, stopping before reaching the Gulneri to allow Kurdamir-1 to be logged, cased, and tested as planned. Original total depth is 4,077 m.

Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, has 40% interest in the well, and the Kurdistan Regional Government owns 20%. WesternZagros is block operator with 40% interest.